Stark Trek Into Darkness: Spock Actor Zachary Quinto Will Only Star in One More Film

The highly anticipated J.J. Abrams, Star Trek Into Darkness, due out in May 2013, will bring back many of the reboot’s most enjoyable actors: Zoe Saldana (Nyota), Simon Pegg (Scotty), and John Cho (Hikaru). One returning star however may be finishing his run with the series. Zachary Quinto, who played Spock in 2009, and again in Into Darkness,has hinted that he will not resume the role in future installments.

Quinto, most famous for his role as the sociopathic Sylar in Heroes,is tired of being typecast. In a recent Entertainment Weeklyinterview Quinto said he wants to “go in a different direction” after Star Trek. “It’s like an era of association with certain roles—a specific part like Spock, or a kind of part, like Sylar—is coming to an end.”

Quinto as the half human, half Vulcan Spock already inhabits an iconic role originally brought to life by Leonard Nimoy. In the Bond franchise actors as diverse as Sean Connery, and Pierce Brosnan have embodied the title role. Batman’schanging incarnations via Michael Keaton, George Clooney, and now Christian Bale prove that enduring heroes often have changing faces in film.

Here are our top three best and worst Hollywood hero switchies:

1. Spiderman: Tobey Maguire to Andrew Garfield. SUCCESS

Much sexier.

2. Superman: Dean Cain to Brandon Routh. BOO

Way to ruin my childhood and bore us to CGI-ed death.

3. Dumbledore: Richard Harris to Michael Gambon. MAGIC!

I might not have even noticed this one if it weren't for the press around Harris’ passing. All white (wizards) look alike. They might secretly both just be Ian Mckellen.

Marni has a M.A. from NYU's Arthur Carter Journalism Institute's Cultural Reporting and Criticism Program, where she studied under Susie Linfield, Katie Roiphe, and Dennis Lim. She also has a B.A. in history and politics from Pomona College. Marni has previously written for Forbes, AOL, and Conde Nast Traveler.